She finished the sentence for him, laughing:
"Countess Marescot, Baroness de la Hêtraie, de Beaugreval, and other places."
The Count seized the birth certificate with no less eagerness, and more and more astounded, read it slowly syllable by syllable:
"Yolande Isabel Dorothy, Princess of Argonne, born at Argonne, on the 14th of October, 1900, legitimate daughter of Jean de Marescot, Prince of Argonne, and of Jessie Varenne."
Further doubt was impossible. The civil status to which the young girl laid claim was established by proofs, which they were the less inclined to challenge since the unexpected fact explained exactly everything which appeared inexplicable in the manners and even in the appearance of Dorothy.
The Countess gave her feelings full play:
"Yolande? You are the little Yolande about whom Jean d'Argonne used to talk to us with such fondness."
"He was very fond of me," said the young girl. "Circumstances did not allow us to live always together as I should have liked. But I was as fond of him as if I had seen him every day."
"Yes," said the Countess. "One could not help being fond of him. I only saw him twice in my life, in Paris, at the beginning of the war. But what delightful recollections of him I retain! A man teeming with gayety and lightheartedness! Just like you, Dorothy. Besides, I find him again in you ... the eyes ... and above all the smile."
Dorothy displayed two photographs which she took from among her papers.